Our Prostate Cancer Journey and Experience

StarSong

StarSong

Awkward is my Superpower
Location
Los Angeles Suburbs
Early last summer our GP noted a somewhat elevated PSA level in DH's bloodwork. Also didn't like what he felt during the digital exam. I may be off somewhat on the order of how things happened, but will be pretty close.

DH went to a urologist who repeated the digital exam, confirming the presence of something suspicious. Due to DH's age (71) he didn't want to start out with a biopsy, so ordered an MRI, which confirmed the need for a biopsy. Biopsy was positive for cancer. In August/September we were facing two courses of treatment: radiation or surgery. We opted for radiation because the possibility of (lifelong) urine leakage of some degree is much higher with surgery.

The doctors advised us that we had some time on this, but not a whole lot, and ignoring it could be to DH's peril. Once the cancer metastasizes, you're pretty much a dead duck who'll endure a difficult life ending experience.

They did a PET Scan to see exactly where the cancer was, and to be sure it hadn't already metastasized. So in January, DH began a six week course of daily radiation treatments, plus had to deal with testosterone suppression.

He educated himself on everything one could imagine when it came to prostate cancer, so knew what to insist on (a three month testosterone suppression course rather than the six month, for example).

I told him I was going to write about this in the forum because I don't want to see any of you ignoring this potentially life-ending condition. (I kept the info almost completely under wraps while we were going through it.) He highly recommends checking out Dr. Mark Scholz's videos on YouTube Prostate Cancer Research Institute.

Scholz serves as medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc. in Marina del Rey, CA, a medical practice exclusively focused on prostate cancer. His videos are in plain English and address all manner of topics.

If you are dealing with an increased PSA number, I urge you to investigate fully before deciding to ignore it.

p.s. DH is FINE now. Testosterone levels are back to normal and PSA levels are in the low range of normal. His oncologist said she couldn't have asked for better results, which she attributes to early detection and treatment.
 

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Grampa Don said:
There was a option to implant a radioactive seed to kill the tumor, but it wasn't offered to me at the time.
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They discussed that with my husband, but the restrictions were too great. For instance, we wouldn't have been able to sleep in the same bed and he couldn't have had close contact with our toddler grandsons. For me to banish myself to another bedroom and for him to not be able to hold the little ones or allow them sit on his lap while watching Paw Patrol were deal-breakers for my husband, especially since radiation had very high success rates for his diagnosis.

I'm glad yours was managed successfully, Grandpa Don. 23 years since the surgery is a very happy outcome indeed.
 

StarSong said:
Early last summer our GP noted a somewhat elevated PSA level in DH's bloodwork. Also didn't like what he felt during the digital exam. I may be off somewhat on the order of how things happened, but will be pretty close.

DH went to a urologist who repeated the digital exam, confirming the presence of something suspicious. Due to DH's age (71) he didn't want to start out with a biopsy, so ordered an MRI, which confirmed the need for a biopsy. Biopsy was positive for cancer. In August/September we were facing two courses of treatment: radiation or surgery. We opted for radiation because the possibility of (lifelong) urine leakage of some degree is much higher with surgery.

The doctors advised us that we had some time on this, but not a whole lot, and ignoring it could be to DH's peril. Once the cancer metastasizes, you're pretty much a dead duck who'll endure a difficult life ending experience.

They did a PET Scan to see exactly where the cancer was, and to be sure it hadn't already metastasized. So in January, DH began a six week course of daily radiation treatments, plus had to deal with testosterone suppression.

He educated himself on everything one could imagine when it came to prostate cancer, so knew what to insist on (a three month testosterone suppression course rather than the six month, for example).

I told him I was going to write about this in the forum because I don't want to see any of you ignoring this potentially life-ending condition. (I kept the info almost completely under wraps while we were going through it.) He highly recommends checking out Dr. Mark Scholz's videos on YouTube Prostate Cancer Research Institute.

Scholz serves as medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc. in Marina del Rey, CA, a medical practice exclusively focused on prostate cancer. His videos are in plain English and address all manner of topics.

If you are dealing with an increased PSA number, I urge you to investigate fully before deciding to ignore it.

p.s. DH is FINE now. Testosterone levels are back to normal and PSA levels are in the low range of normal. His oncologist said she couldn't have asked for better results, which she attributes to early detection and treatment.
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Yes, this was recently discussed in this forum so your input is truly appreciated. I'm so glad to hear your DH is cancer-free and back to normal!
 
I'm glad your DH is fine now. I know at least three men who were treated for prostate cancer. One was my late husband. I remember going to his treatments with him. He also chose radiation therapy. He said the worst thing about that was having to drink so much water then not being able to pee until the treatment was over. My husband did have a high tolerance for discomfort.

The other man I know is my sister's S.O. His treatment of choice was what they call "seeds", which are implanted, I believe. He is older than my husband (would have been) and is still living. Last I saw him, he was in pretty good health.
@seadoug @MACKTEXAS
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Every person with the capacity to make decisions has the right to choose their own health care path, even if it differs from what friends, medical professionals or family members recommend.
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Agree completely. Being informed about health care options puts us in a much better position to best advocate for ourselves and our loved ones.

Since days of old, consumers must separate the wheat from the chaff, i.e, the true experts from the quacks (many of whom tout their own brands of snake oil, currently called "supplements").
 
StarSong said:
consumers must separate the wheat from the chaff, i.e, the true experts from the quacks (many of whom tout their own brands of snake oil, currently called "supplements").
Click to expand...
When my wife was diagnosed with ALS, the neurologist told her, "You have the worst kind; you have 1-2 years to live." We didn't believe it. She looked healthy that day. The only symptom she had was slightly slurred speech and a raspy voice.

We promptly met with a nutritionist to set up a dietary plan, and researched every supplement that offered potential benefits against the disease, and bought all of them. We spent 3-4 hundred dollars a month on supplments, and followed all the nutiritionist's advice, yet she died before the end of the 2nd year, just as the neurologist said.
 
When I found out I had prostate cancer, I decided on brachytherapy (seeds) treatment. It's just one out patient procedure where they shoot something into the area and go home. Over a year later (maybe two) everything is fine and low PSA levels and never any pain or discomfort.

However a few years later when I was getting radiation for throat cancer, patients for prostate cancer were in the same group. None of them liked it and it's almost as long as my 38 week radiation treatments. Sometimes they were refused treatment for urination or hydration problems and had to wait or come back. I was always done and gone before them. Looking back I'm glad I didn't choose the regular 12 week radiation treatment.
 
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In 2023 and 4 we went through this with DH. He had the radiation treatments and is doing well now. He finally got off the hormone therapy this summer and is getting his strength back. They keep a watchful eye on him.
@StarSong I'm glad your husband and mine, and the others here are fine now. When found and treated early the results are usually way better than the alternatives.
 
My cousins husband died of lung cancer in August 2021. I can't help believe that his cancer didn't start in his prostate and metastasized to his lungs. His cancer was so aggressive I don't think they had time to investigate it any further. The reason why I think it might have started in his prostate is due to a conversation I had with him earlier.
He told me his dad, grandfather, and uncle died of prostate cancer. I asked him if he had ever had his prostate checked out. He said once years earlier and he would never let a doctor do that exam again. I asked him why. He said years earlier when his doctor was digitally doing the exam, the doctor made light of him having it done. I'm sure the doctor probably made a little funny to help ease the tension of someone sticking something up his behind. Well...it had the opposite effect on him. He was furious and vowed never to have the exam again. Since prostate cancer can run in the family, I always wondered if that's how his cancer started. We'll never know.
 
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